Maybe you are planning to renovate or redecorate your house before Christmas, after summer holidays, or to have it ready for that long-awaited party or a personal triumph in your life. We often make the mistake of underestimating the time needed to go through a renovation or decoration project a reality, regardless of its size.
The foundations of a well-executed project are planning and organization and these will guarantee you have the interior you dream of, regardless of whether you are renovating a room or the entire house. Therefore, my best advice is to start planning in advance.
In this post I explain the length of each phase of our Interior design projects with renovation, so that you can plan it in advance for that special moment.
A project with renovation needs at least 2-3 months for the design and budget optimization phase, so I recommend that you start your project 6 months earlier than you need.
An decoration project (without renovation) can take from 2.5 to 4 months, depending on the lead times of each supplier.
A renovation project can take from 3 to 9 months, depending on its scope.
What are the phases of a renovation project?: My experience as an Interior Designer in Sitges
PHASE 1- FIRST MEETING
The first phase is to get to know each other, have a coffee while you explain me your project and expectations.
I always go with my clients through a custom questionnaire, which I fill out as we talk. The intention is to set your objectives and understand the scope of the project, as well as your expectations.
I will ask you things like what you like or dislike about your home, what things you would change to improve your daily life, even personal preferences and budget in mind. You will need to book 3 hours for this meeting and I assure you, the time will fly by!
I will take measurements of the rooms to create a drawing plan of the areas to be renovated and then I will be able to provide you with a quote for the Interior Design fees as well as letting you know my availability to start the project.
Length: 1-2 weeks
PHASE 2- INITIAL DESIGN PHASE
Once the budget is confirmed, we will set a project start date and I will develop a programme of needs, propose initial design ideas and we will discuss your budget.
In this phase, we will focus on:
Space layout possibilities.
Design concept through moodboards, images or raw 3D models to ensure that the design moves in the direction you expect.
2D floor plans, elevations so you can visualize the possibilities.
Make an inventory of your current furniture and make relocation suggestions if they can be reused.
Suggestions for color palettes, finish styles and textures.
Duration: 3-4 weeks
PHASE 3- PROPOSAL PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL
Once I have presented the proposal to you, you will be able to tell me what things you liked and you will request what you want to change.
Duration: 1-2 weeks
PHASE 4- DETAIL DESIGN
In this phase we will begin to plan the space in detail, including custom furniture design, architectural details, selections and search for different options for materials, design, furniture, lighting and accessories.
With the specific plans we will be able to request quotes and create a breakdown of the overall cost of the project.
Duration: 2-3 weeks
PHASE 5- DETAILED BUDGET AND PLANNING
During the first 4 phases the excitement is at its peak, often the proposed proposals fit perfectly with your requirements and you become enthusiastic about the wide range of possibilities that your space offers.
In the fifth phase, we touch down on reality: the budget you need to make all your dreams come true. And this is where we usually have to make commitments, rethink certain choices and optimize the budget according to your possibilities to be able to carry it out.
Duration: 2-3 weeks
PHASE 6- RECRUITMENTS AND PROGRAMMING
Once the design and budget have been approved, the phase of hiring industrials and organising their activities begins. With this I am in charge of project management and industrial coordination.
All my clients receive an estimate of the time each stage of the project will take and a weekly schedule, which gives them a fairly clear idea about their renovation process.
Of course, there may be some delay, but as long as we have a defined plan it will be much easier to optimize times.
Duration: 1 week
PHASE 7- ORDERS AND PERMITS
Any permits required will be processed before the work begins. The usual time to process licenses and construction permits in the province of Barcelona varies between 1 and 2 months, depending on whether it is a minor work or a major work.
During this phase, deposits are collected to pay the different suppliers according to their payment conditions. Many of them require 40% in advance to confirm the order. Other items must be paid in advance, such as furniture and accessories. Once everything is organized, the purchasing phase begins.
During this time, orders and purchases of materials, kitchen cabinets, lighting, toilets, worktops, as well as custom furniture, prefabricated furniture and accessories are formalized.
The objective: that everything arrives on time, coinciding with the renovation program.
The delivery period varies significantly between products and suppliers depending on their production and stock. For example, making a custom staircase can take 4 to 6 weeks; and buying a custom, hand-woven rug from India that will require considerable production and import time is not the same as buying a product that is already in stock in our country.
This phase includes a long wait time to get all the puzzle pieces to fit together. Often, we find that a product is out of stock and we must propose strategic alternatives to avoid delays. In this phase I am in charge of receiving materials, reviewing them, ensuring that they arrive on time and in good condition.
Permit phase duration: 1-2 months
Order phase duration: 1-2 weeks
PHASE 8- CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT
During this phase, work on site begins, organized so that different operators work simultaneously when possible and ensuring that the chain of work respects the work of others. For example, the painter will be almost the last one to enter the action, to ensure that his work is not ruined by others during the process.
The execution time of a project can vary from 6 to 12 weeks or longer, depending on its scope. Starting with demolition (if necessary) and heavy construction work to electrical work, installations, carpentry and decorative finishes (depending on the scope of each project).
As you can see, coordinating the entire process is a great challenge and can cause some delay.
Duration: 6-12 weeks
PHASE 9- DELIVERY AND ASSEMBLY
This is the most beautiful part, the noisy and dusty phase are over and the walls are already painted and look beautiful. Now is the time to install the new furniture, lighting and accessories or decorative elements such as curtains, paintings, textiles...
The delivery will have been carried out during the previous weeks, so that as soon as the work is finished the assembly begins.
The time of this phase can be from a few days (2-3) to 2 weeks depending on each project.
Duration: 1-2 weeks
OVERALL PROJECT TIME
Duration: 12- 36 weeks
As you can see, the Interior Design project can take from 3 to 9 months from when the first seed is planted until you can feel it. Therefore, give yourself enough time to think through all the details and get the best quotes and results for you.
I am Jimena Sarli, a passionate Interior Designer, creator of the LADY J.INTERIORS studio in Sitges. What are you awaiting to get in contact? Request your renovation quote and start optimizing your time and your budget with me.
